aggrandize

verb

ə-ˈgran-ˌdīz How to pronounce aggrandize (audio)
Definition of aggrandizenext
1
as in to elevate
to assign a high status or value to a movie that aggrandizes the bad guys and makes the cops look like dopes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number a generous grant, enabling the library to significantly aggrandize its collection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggrandize Vrabel has modernized, professionalized and aggrandized the Patriots in a matter of months. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025 Part of him wants to aggrandize the country to reflect his own inflated self-conception. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025 Throughout the war, state-run media have aggrandized Russian wins on the battlefield, while downplaying or ignoring news to the contrary. — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025 In the Caribbean, San Juan’s rebirth following hurricanes and the pandemic is marked by an inaugural culinary festival, thanks to the very innovators who have aggrandized the tiny island’s bold flavors around the globe. — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aggrandize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggrandize
  1. elevate
  2. increase
  3. promote
  4. expand
  5. accelerate
  6. augment
  7. boost
Verb
  • The victory denies Abbott a fourth term and elevates an Austin state representative who built her campaign around public education, household costs and criticism of the state's Republican leadership.
    — Blaise Gainey, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The election also elevates a number of state and gubernatorial candidates who made stricter regulation of data centers a key part of their campaigns.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • Some studies also suggest moving commuting times nearer to dusk in the fall increases the risk of vehicle collisions with deer and other wildlife, which are more active around sunset.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Advance voting has also increased more than 30% from the same point four years ago in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, states with competitive Senate races.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Rather than campaign for Whatley, he's been promoting his new book criticizing fellow Republicans.
    — Colin Campbell, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The pastor successfully converted his personal popularity into votes by promoting unity — both among Kansans and between political parties.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of promote
Verb
  • The company now plans to expand testing before integrating the engine into a flight vehicle.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Ratan believes this way of expanding is a viable option for his future.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Japan has been accelerating military buildup in southwestern Japan to deter China.
    — JIM GOMEZ, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Google just posted two quarters of negative free cash flow for the first time on record as AI spending accelerates while revenue isn’t growing as fast as expected.
    — Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • The original tracklist is augmented by a full recording of the band’s 1977 show at Oakland Coliseum Arena, filmed by teen bootlegger Reinhard Hohlwein.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The governor also urged national lawmakers to pass a federal film and television incentive, which could augment states’ efforts to bolster local production.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of augment
Verb
  • Bone loading boosted its circulating levels, while injections of the protein reduced several signs of aging and improved cognitive and physical performance in older mice.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Multiple powerful submarines and aircraft carriers in the United States are set to get advanced systems to boost their performance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of boost

Browse Nearby Words

agglutination
aggrandize
aggrandized
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Cite this Entry

“Aggrandize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrandize. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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